Now is the time to come home. . . . Join us on the journey, Friday, April 21, 2017.

Near the end of his life, Pappa Ray Sampson summons his adult children to gather at the homeplace. There are scores to settle. They must decide how to manage the land that is theirs. Or is it?

What is a “homeplace?” More than a house on a piece of land, it is the energy and spirit of a village and its people, who struggled, worked and loved, brought us into that village and left us there, alone. In quiet moments, we hear their words on the wind; we feel their dignity in the face of indignity. We sense their strength, reclaim our birthright, and leave our own legacies, with theirs, for those who have yet to arrive. But this is not an easy task. To succeed, we must face conflicts, survive deaths of those we love, cope with difficult truths about ourselves and our families, and arrive at a place of self-acceptance. From those in the homeplace, we can learn to overcome, to flourish and to reclaim what is ours.

Homeplace is a new play by Claudette Alexander-Thomason, a native of Washington, D.C. A published writer of short stories, poetry, prose, and plays, she has been writing since she was in third grade. A literary and spoken word artist, accomplished actress, vocalist, and performing arts instructor/coach, she believes in the power of words to create. "In the beginning was and is the WORD..." One of her passions is to witness, whether as an artist or audience member, the art of storytelling in all its forms, but most especially on stage.

Alexander-Thomason has over 30 years of theatre experience and presently teaches English at DeKalb Technical College. She also serves as Theatre Arts Ministry Coordinator at her home church in Lithonia, Georgia. This production is the world premiere of Homeplace. It is directed by Coppin’s Director of Theatre, Willie O. Jordan.